As per linear equation, if we compare the tax on the first item with the second item, then the second item costs before tax is $72.
What is a linear equation?
"A linear equation is an equation in which the highest power of the variable is always 1. It is also known as a one-degree equation. The standard form of a linear equation in one variable is of the form Ax + B = 0. Here, x is a variable, A is a coefficient and B is constant."
Given, the sales tax of $12 on an item that costs $128 before tax.
Therefore, the percentage tax on that item is
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Let, the cost of the second item is 'x' before tax.
Therefore, if we consider the same proportion of tax on both items, then the linear equation will be:
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Therefore, the cost of the second item is $72.
Learn more about a linear equation here: https://brainly.com/question/2263981
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